Type 1 diabetes activist Neil Greathouse is issuing a viral warning about the sugar-free, double-stuffed Oreos, claiming that the tasty snack is actually a secret laxative that forces you to “play chicken with [your] own colon.” This is a terrifying warning, especially for anyone who has relied on sugar-free treats to keep their diet on track.
Greathouse, who shared his unfortunate experience via a TikTok video that has racked up over 1.3 million views and was picked up by BroBible, initially loved the taste of the cookies after buying them in Little Rock, Arkansas. He quickly regretted eating five of them, however, when his stomach started growling during a critical Zoom call. He joked that he was trying to save everyone from “the darkest chapter of your gastrointestinal history.”
He described the beginning of the disaster as a tiny flutter that hits your abdomen just minutes after consumption. Greathouse said that “12 minutes later, that tiny flutter is going to hit your abdomen, like your colon politely clearing its throat.” That polite clearing quickly escalated into serious, full-blown pain, leaving him fearing that his co-workers could see his distress. He feared he was “one clench away from being a local news headline” while attempting to sit through the virtual meeting.
So, why do these sugar-free snacks turn into a digestive nightmare?
Greathouse calls out Mondelez International’s Nabisco, the brand behind Oreos, for using a triple threat of ingredients: sorbitol, maltitol, and added fiber. Maltitol and sorbitol are both sugar alcohols that manage to give food a sweet taste without using actual sugar. The issue is that these sugar alcohols are really tough for your body to digest, much like the sugar-free syrups you can get at places like Dunkin’s.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, because the body has difficulty breaking down these ingredients, it triggers a reaction where water is sent straight to the colon. That process is exactly what mimics a laxative, causing side effects that include cramping, bloating, and diarrhea. If you’re sensitive to these ingredients, you’re going to have a rough time, and five double-stuffed cookies are clearly way too many.
Greathouse warns that even though these are sugar alternatives, people with type 1 diabetes should reconsider foods with maltitol. He points out that “Maltitol can still bump your blood sugar up, so yes, your glucose will get a little bit of a rise along with a category five evacuation.” If you’re going to risk the pain, you shouldn’t have to deal with a blood sugar spike too. He offered some solid advice, saying, “My advice is to take a couple units of insulin and eat the real Oreo.”
Of course, some viewers saw Greathouse’s warning less as a cautionary tale and more as an opportunity. Some commenters joked about strategically leaving the cookies out in the office kitchen for a coworker they absolutely hate. Others took the opposite approach, seeing the Oreos as a perfect tool for a cleanse. I mean, what’s to expect from the platform where pure sugar horse treats are being gobbled up for virality?
One viewer asked if this means they should eat five sugar-free double-stuffed Oreos if they are constipated and need a cleanse. Another joked they were “clearing my entire weekend, charging my phone to 100%, and doing an Oreo cleanse.”
I think I’ll stick to the full-sugar version, thanks.
Published: Dec 16, 2025 04:00 pm